Was There: 1975 summit at French castle plants seed for future G7 club of wealthy nations

The Rambouillet summit of 1975 helped seed a club that would grow into the G7, uniting six industrial powers to confront a global economic slump. President Gerald Ford joined French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and leaders from Britain, West Germany, Japan, and Italy at the Château de Rambouillet for three days beginning November 15, 1975. Canada would join the following year, creating the G7. Ford projected a U.S. recovery with growth of 6 to 7 percent through 1976, while rejecting the view that expansion was impossible at pre-recession levels. The mood was pragmatic, the talks low-key, even as officials signaled confidence in a shared path forward.